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Affirmation as Zion: Gathering Our Family by the Bay San Francisco, 8-10 October
Deadline Information Pre-registration deadlines have passed. If someone had extenuating circumstances wherein they missed the September 22 deadline, (sfaaron  dcn.org) by September 28. Registrations will also be accepted at the conference on a walk-in basis, at the same price ($209 for full conference, minus applicable discounts), but that walk-in registration will mostly likely not include meals, since those have to be ordered in advance. Hotel If you have not yet made or finalized your hotel room reservations, now is the time! Contact the Ramada at 1-800-227-4747. Remember to mention the Affirmation conference to get our low conference rates. 
More hotel information
The GLBT Community Center (The Center) Most of the Friday evening events, as well as most of the Saturday daytime events will take place at the San Francisco GLBT Community Center rather than the Ramada Plaza. Make sure to check the program for the venue of each event! The Center is located at 1800 Market Street (at Octavia). Please use public transportation to access the Center. Limited street parking available. The Center is an easy approx.15 minute walk from the Ramada Plaza Hotel or a very short ride on the F-line streetcar. For more information on The Center visit www.sfcenter.org. "Reconciliation:" An Exhibition by Trevor Southey The San Francisco GLBT Center will hold an exhibition of paintings, etchings and sculpture by renowned gay Mormon artist Trevor Southey. Admission is free. San Francisco LGBT Community Center Gallery (Room 301) 1800 Market Street (6 blocks from the Ramada) An opening reception with Trevor Southey will take place on Thursday, October 7, 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm, at the gallery. The gallery will be open at the Center throughout the conference, during the Center's open hours, which are: Thursday: 12:00 noon - 10:00 pm Friday: 12:00 noon - 10:00 pm Saturday: 9:00am - 10:00 pm Closed on Sunday Transgender-Related Events at the San Francisco Conference TGI Mormon Meet & Greet When: Friday October 8th at 1 p.m. Where: We will meet in the Affirmation Hospitality Suite, Room 745, of the Ramada hotel (notice that the venue has been changed). We will walk to the Blue Muse Restaurant located at 409 Gough St. and have lunch. TGI Mormon Night on the Town When: Saturday night after the evening conference events. Where: We will meet at the conference table in the lobby of the Ramada. We will then walk to Divas, located at 1081 Post St (or some other similar place) for a night of fun frivolity. Kara Flynn will join Roxy Carmichael-Hart and others to form the panel for our Transgender workshop! The panel will include:
If you are planning to bring any children to the conference (even if officially unregistered), we would like to know in advance, so that we may better plan and coordinate those events and activities for children and families. If you are bringing any children, or would like to know more about bringing children, please contact our families coordinators Trey Lathe and Guy Berryessa, (warren3 lathefamily.org)
or by phone: 415-225-4839.
More about family resources & activities
The best we can say is that weather is unpredictable. It could be sunny and warm in the City (usually in the 70's on a sunny day in October), but it can also be overcast or foggy and/or windy. Also, it can be sunny and warm in one part of the city, and foggy and cold in another part of the city. So, you may need to bring light jackets/sweaters for cooler evenings. You will need to be walking from the hotel to the Gay and Lesbian center (about a 10-15 minute walk out in the elements, or a streetcar ride). San Francisco is the "Foggy City"--and you'll be in our city at the tail end of our foggy season.
And finally, some helpful hints about getting to the conference hotel from our major airports, San Francisco International (SFO), and Oakland International (OAK). As you know we have discouraged driving to the conference due to the lack of (or very limited and costly) overnight parking in our urban hotel area. So we assume most people will fly. Getting to the hotel from either airport is actually quite simple. Our Bay Area Rapid Transit train system (called BART) now runs from both airports (in the case of Oakland, via the AirBART shuttle bus from the airport to the nearest BART station). Both airports are about equidistant from the hotel, so look for the one with the best flights and fares. (SFO has a bit of a reputation for flights being late due to bad weather; so all other things being equal, you might prefer the OAK airport.) Travel from the Oakland International Airport Find the AirBART ticket machine in the terminal (usually near the luggage carousels), and purchase a $2 AirBART ticket. Then go outside the terminal and wait at the AirBART stop out front. The AirBART shuttle bus takes you to the Coliseum/Oakland Airport BART Station. At the Coliseum station, buy a BART ticket from a self-service ticket kiosk. (You will buy a BART ticket that gets you on the train, and then you use the ticket again to get off the train, so don't lose your ticket in transit.) From the Coliseum BART Station, you are heading to the Civic Center BART station in San Francisco (Be sure you are getting on the right train platform to board a SF/Daly City bound train). That trip costs $3.15, and takes about 25 minutes. The AirBART shuttle runs every 15 minutes, and BART trains run every 10 to 20 minutes, depending on day of week and time of day. Allow about an hour total to travel to/from the airport to the hotel. Go to the BART or Airport websites for more specific information. Travel from the San Francisco International Airport To get from your flight to the SFO BART station, you need to take the AirTrain - a people mover system within the airport. After retrieving any checked luggage, find your nearest AirTrain station, and proceed to the SFO BART station. At the SFO BART station, buy a BART ticket from a self-service ticket kiosk. (You will buy a BART ticket that gets you on the train, and then you use the ticket again to get off the train - don't lose your ticket in transit.) From the SFO BART Station, you are heading to the Civic Center BART station in San Francisco (Be sure you are getting on the right train platform to board a Pittsburg/Bay Point bound train). The trip costs $4.95, and takes about 28 minutes. BART trains run every 10 to 20 minutes, depending on day of week and time of day. Allow about an hour total to travel to/from the airport to the hotel. Go to the BART or Airport websites for more specific information. Getting to the Hotel from BART Once you arrive to the Civic Center BART station, take stairs, an escalator, or an elevator up to street level. The BART station is literally right under the hotel, which is at the intersection of Market Street and 8th and Hyde Streets. The hotel is on the corner of Market and 8th--and there is a BART entrance 25 feet from the front door of the Ramada. When you're in the BART station, look for the exit marked Market and 8th (which is down a long underground hallway). Helpful Travel Links Oakland International Airport  San Francisco International Airport BART (Bay Area Rapid Transit) Conference Website and Information
Flying to the Bay Area doesn't have to be expensive! If you're flying from the West, Southwest and Delta are two of the airlines offering inexpensive tickets. Southwest offers its air fare specials Tuesdays through Thursdays. It is often cheaper to make the reservations online rather than calling in. At orbitz.com, travelocity.com, and hotwire.com you can find specials offered by many different airlines. As you schedule your flight, don't forget that both Oakland International (OAK) and San Francisco International (SFO) are both excellent choices, as the hotel is equidistant from both airports. Tentative Program (The following schedule is subject to possible changes) Thursday, October 7th Registration 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm (Ramada - Governor's Suite, Room 745, 7th Floor) Hospitality Suite 5:00 pm - 2:00 am (Ramada - Governor's Suite, Room 745, 7th Floor) Artist Reception: Reconciliation (free event) 7:00 - 10:00 pm (the Center, Gallery, 3rd Floor) Beach Blanket Babylon (special event, ticket required) 8:00 - 10:00 pm 678 Beach Blanket Babylon Boulevard (Green Street) Meet out front of Club Fugazi at 7:00 pm Friday, October 8th Castro Tour (optional) 9:45 - 2:00 pm (includes lunch) Group meets at the southwest corner of Market and Castro streets, in front of the entrance to the underground MUNI station Hospitality Suite & Registration 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm (Ramada - Governor's Suite, Room 745, 7th Floor) Annual Leadership Meeting 2:00 - 4:00 pm Location has been changed. The meeting will be held in the Whitcomb Ballroom, on the 1st Floor of the Ramada. Registration continues 4:30 pm - 8:30 pm (the Center, 4th Floor Lobby) First-Timers Reception 4:30 - 5:30 pm (Ramada - Governor's Suite, Room 745, 7th floor) Note: The venue has been changed from what was previously announced as "Room 711."
Opening Social Mixer 6:00 - 7:30 pm (the Center - Ceremonial Room, 4th Floor) Entertainment 8:00 - 9:30 pm (the Center - Rainbow Room)
(Ramada - Governor's Suite, Room 745, 7th Floor) Saturday, October 9th Registration continues 8:00 am - 1:00 pm (the Center, 4th Floor Lobby) Continental Breakfast & Announcements (the Center, Ceremonial Room, 4th Floor) 8 - 8:45 am Workshops 9:00 - 12:55 am (The Center). Five tracks and three sessions of concurrent workshops will include the following presentations:
Gay Mormon Fathers Luncheon (special event, ticket required) 1:00 - 3:00 pm (The Center - Rainbow Room) Lunch with Steve Benson - Pulitzer Prize winner, Arizona Republic Editorial Cartoonist (special event, ticket required) 1:00 - 3:00 pm (The Center - Rainbow Room) San Francisco Free Time, explore the City on your own 1:30 - 6:00 pm Banquet & Evening Events 6:00 -10:00 pm (Ramada - Whitcomb Ballroom) "Beach Blanket Zion" Featuring Robyn David Taylor and lyricist Tom Orr with our glamorous cast of Affirmation members! Awards Presentations (Ramada - Whitcomb Ballroom) Keynote Speaker (Ramada - Whitcomb Ballroom)
(Ramada - Whitcomb Ballroom) "Behind the Zion Curtain" with Robyn David Taylor, featuring musical director & pianist Richard Link (Ramada - Whitcomb Ballroom) Sunday, October 10th Breakfast (not provided) 9:45 am Check-Out time suggested by Affirmation the hotel can store lugagge after check-out Devotional 10:00 - 12:00 pm (Ramada - Whitcomb Ballroom)
Brunch 12:00 - 2:00 pm (Ramada - Whitcomb Ballroom) Alcatraz Sunset Boat Cruise (special event, ticket required) 3:30 pm: Leave Hotel for Pier 41 5:10 pm - 10:00 pm: Alcatraz Tour
Now is the time to start making your plans to join your Affirmation family & friends at this year's upcoming National Affirmation Conference. This will be an exciting and vibrant conference with a truly spectacular array of guest speakers, workshops, entertainment, and fun activities. A few of the conference highlights will include: Keynote Address Kate Kendell, Executive Director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, will serve as Keynote Speaker! Kate Kendell and the NCLR have been involved in such ground-breaking GLBTI events as the Domestic Spousal Rights suit allowing Sharon Smith to receive benefits for the terrible dog mauling of her partner, Diane Whipple, the current suit against Adoption.com for discrimination against a Gay couple, and the allowing of San Francisco Gay Marriages. Workshops Mary Ann Benson will conduct a workshop on how we can find personal spirituality outside of the LDS church structure. Connell "Rocky" O'Donovan will do a presentation on queer Mormon history. Mitzi Henderson, former national PFLAG president (92-96), will represent Family Fellowship/PFLAG in addressing how to support your GLBT children, grandchildren, siblings, and friends and your relationships with your straight family members. Trevor Southey will show his wonderful artwork during a workshop entitled "The Unbidden Erotic in Art." Trey Lathe & Guy Berryessa will be presenting two workshops: "Building Our Families"(methods and issues surrounding creating our GLBT families through adoption, surrogacy, and donor insemination) and "Passing On Our Faith Stories." Mary Ann Benson will conduct a workshop on how we can find personal spirituality outside of the LDS church structure, "Finding Our Own Spiritual Paths"! Devotional Participants include: Emily Pearson, daughter of famed Latter-day Saint author Carol Lynn Pearson, former wife of actor/playwright Steven Fales, and co-founder of the group Wildflowers, an organization created to support the beauty, strength, courage and rebirth of women who have been or who are currently married to homosexual men. Alice Hoglan, mother of 9/11 flight hero, Mark Bingham; Ember Cook, featured in PBS documentary "Our House" with Affirmation member and father Dwight Cook, now working as an intern for COLAGE (Children of Lesbians and Gays Everywhere). And adding his vocal talents will be John Minagro, who's performed from New York's Lincoln Center to San Francisco's Curran Theater, with such notable places as the Mormon Tabernacle along the way. Entertainment Friday night, after the opening social, we're happy to present Heidi Wohlwend's critically acclaimed play that uses puppets, projected images, music and song to tell the story of five generations of Mormon women from convert sisters who travel from Leeds, England to Utah to marry the same man up to Heidi who is estranged from her mother for not choosing to live the Mormon life. Saturday night, we'll be treated to the talents of cabaret artist & singer Robyn David Taylor ("… an amazingly versatile singer - he can swing a jazz song, intone a Verdi aria, rock your soul with a spiritual and put over a show tune like there's no tomorrow!" -- Steve Ross). Back by popular demand, Steve Benson, Pulitzer Prize winning editorial cartoonist for The Arizona Republic will provide cartoons & comic wit to the conference at the Saturday Optional Luncheon. What's New and Different at This Year's Affirmation Conference? "First-Time" Reception: New to Affirmation's National Conference? Drop in to the Hospitality Suite between 4:30 and 5:30 Friday night. Let's get acquainted, answer your questions, and help you get into the swing of things. Hospitality Suite: We've booked a spacious Hospitality Suite for "free time" mingling, board games, and a separate room for showing Gay/Lesbian Mormon themed movies! Family Resources & Activities: In this year's conference we are making every effort to make the conference as family and child friendly as possible, so that those people who wish to bring their families will find it a simple and pleasant process, and so that not only you, but your children will get a lot from the experience. In that regard, there are many family and child friendly aspects to this year's conference, including: free child care during most of the daytime events, low cost child care for evening events, family related workshops, and informal family activities such as a family meet & greet for parents & children, and a Saturday-in-the-Park event! For more information on childcare and suggested family activities, visit the conference site. If you have any questions about bringing your child to the conference or are planning to make use of the child care opportunities, please contact , e-mail <warren3 lathefamily.org>
or phone: 415-225-4839.
1231 Market Street (located between 8th & 9th Streets) Reservations: 1-800-227-4747 www.ramadaplazasf.com The special conference rate is $109/night. (That's $124.26 with tax.) That rate applies to Single, (1 Bed, 1 person), Double (1 Bed, 2 persons), 2 Doubles (2 Beds, 2 people), Triples (2 Beds, 3 people), and Quads (2 beds, 4 people). For more than 4 people in a room, there are roll-away cots that can be added, at around $20 extra per cot per night. These prices are good Thursday 10/7 - Sunday 10/10. The hotel generally extends that same pricing to additional days before and after the contracted days, but there's no guarantee. It depends on whatever is going on in the hotel, how full they are, etc. Guests are likely to get the same rate on additional days, the sooner they make the reservations. Affirmation conference guests can call the 800 number and reserve their rooms at our guaranteed rate of $109 a night ($124.26 with tax) as long as they mention Affirmation. The credit cards used to hold the rooms will not be charged until guests check in but are subject to the 24-hour cancellation fee. The toll-free reservations number is: 800-227-4747. Local reservations are at 415-626-8000. Please make reference to the Affirmation Conference. Finding a Roommate Interested in sharing your hotel room with another conference attendee? Use this Roommate Finder. Registration Registration costs for full conference are as low as $139! To get the absolute lowest possible price for full conference registration, you must register early by July 15. To have meals guaranteed to be included with your registration, you must register no later than Sept 15. See complete registration options, details, and pricing in Registration Information & Instructions pages below.
Information on financial
assistanceBe aware that there are two separate registration forms--one for the main conference itself, and a 2nd separate form just for optional special events, should you choose to participate in any of those. Both forms are included in this packet. Each form and its associated payment need to be mailed to their separate addresses, as indicated in the instructions, and on the forms themselves. Important Dates June 1: Registration Begins July 15: Early Registration (Low-Cost) Deadline Sept 15: On-time Registration Deadline with Guaranteed Meals Sept 15: Special Events Registration Deadline Oct 7: Pre-Conference Special Events Begin Oct 8: Conference Starts Details and Updates For more specific details and recent updates on the 2004 San Francisco conference, go to the conference website at <www.affirmation.org/SanFrancisco2004>. For more on the conference, photos, and monthly updates, please visit our Conference Website at <www.affirmation.org/SanFrancisco2004>. Registration Information & Instructions General Instructions Please read this section carefully for important registration information, before you fill out the following 2-page Registration Form--be sure to fill out both sides. Please fill out the form as neatly and legibly as possible--we want to be sure to register you correctly! If you have questions regarding how to fill out the form, please contact Aaron Vinck by e-mail or by phone:. Note that the form has an example column--fill in the blank column at the right with your own registration. Registration Rates and Deadlines Early registration is appreciated and encouraged for successful conference planning. The earlier you register, the more you save! There are two rates - early registration (by July 15th), and on-time registration (by Sept 15th). Please don't miss the on-time deadline. Those who register after Sept 15th will not receive meals at hotel meal events. Registration Refunds Full refunds are only available for those who request them before the on-time registration deadline, Sept 15th. Requests for refunds after that date will be considered on a case-by-case basis, but refunds, full or partial, after that date cannot be guaranteed.
Each adult attending conference must fill out a separate registration form. Multiple forms from a couple or family may be mailed together, and included in one payment if by check. Make copies of the blank form for all those you may be registering before you begin. Registered children should be included on one parent's form only. Children under 18 may attend conference with a registered adult for free--no registration required. But if children will be served at hotel meal events (Saturday dinner or Sunday brunch), there is a $75 fee per child. Children registering for the $75 meals option must be registered on-time by Sept 15th. Meals will not be available for children whose parents are late registrants, or who are walk-in registrants. Special registration options are available for supportive family members (e.g. parents)--see Individual Event Registration below. Be sure to read about our free and low-cost childcare opportunities.
The conference is arranging several special events that are not included as part of the conference itself. These are: Thursday night Beach Blanket Babylon, Friday Castro Tour, Saturday Lunch with Gamofites or Steven Benson, and Sunday Alcatraz Tour. See conference information for descriptions of these special events. Special events are NOT included in any full or individual event registration fees. Separate registration (see Special Events Registration form) and fees required to attend these events. Availability of these special events is limited. Tickets will be given on a first-come first-served basis. For questions regarding special events registration, by e-mail at Scott_MacKay or by phone. Individual Event Registration The Saturday Dinner and Sunday Brunch Only registration option is intended for supportive family (e.g. parents) and friends of Affirmation members who may wish to join you for the meal events only. This registration option must be filled out as a separate registration form for each person attending. Affirmation Membership If you are not already an Affirmation member or your past membership has expired, you can save $20 (the cost of individual annual membership) off of full conference registration by joining or renewing your membership now. Hotel Accommodations Full conference or individual event registration does NOT include hotel accommodations. Please note that staying one, two, or more nights at the Ramada helps to offset conference expenses. Registration pricing is designed to encourage attendees to reserve rooms at the Ramada--those who make their reservations before they send in their conference registrations will receive an additional $20 discount on their registration costs. (If you are sharing a room with another registered hotel guest, that counts--just be sure your name is listed on the room as one of its occupants!) Yes, you might find less expensive places to stay (cheap motels, or with local friends or family), but doing so hurts Affirmation financially, and also diminishes your own conference experience, since you will be spending more time traveling to and from the conference, and you will miss opportunities for spontaneous interactions with other attendees. Local Bay Area attendees are encouraged to stay at the hotel, and are discouraged from hosting any out-of-town conference attendees. Parking Conference attendees are discouraged from driving to the conference, because parking opportunities in or nearby the hotel are very limited and costly. The Ramada does have a small parking lot, but an overnight parking space if available costs $25 per night. Also note, the Ramada main entrance is right on Market, a busy urban street--there is no drive-up entrance or loading/unloading spot on Market. If you are driving, be sure to discuss your parking options with the Ramada when you call to make your room reservations. Public transportation options from local airports to the Ramada are excellent. Getting around the City without a car is also very doable. Roommate Finder If you need help finding roommates to share a room at the Ramada, try Affirmation's on-line Roommate Finder. Meals Meal events will not be available for late registrations after Sept 15th, nor for walk-in registrations, including children. (Meal planning and final head counts must be completed by Sept 15th.) Late and walk-in registrants will be able to attend meal events, but will not be served meals. The meals included with conference registration are: Friday night social mixer (hors d'oeuvres at 6pm), Saturday morning continental breakfast (8am), Saturday night dinner and dessert (6:30pm), and Sunday brunch (12pm). Meals on-your-own include Friday dinner (before or after activities), Saturday lunch, and Sunday breakfast (if 12:00 brunch is too long to wait). There is a restaurant in the lobby of the Ramada for on-your-own meals, Starbucks in the lobby for coffee and nibbles, and various neighborhood eateries as well. During the Saturday lunch on-you-own period, for those interested there will be an optional Gamofites lunch meeting and a Steven Benson lunch meeting at The Center following the workshops, available at extra cost. You must be pre-registered for these lunches separately as a special event, through Scott MacKay--see Special Events. Charitable Funds Descriptions On the Registration Form, you are invited to make a donation to one of more of Affirmations charitable funds: Irwin W. Phelps: a conference scholarship fund to help others who may not have the means to attend conference. Optional Special Events Information This year's Affirmation National Conference Committee has prepared five extra optional events to enhance your Conference experience. Events occur prior to, during, and after conference concludes-–you may want to adjust your travel and hotel dates to accommodate these special events, and spend some extra time in beautiful San Francisco. We've included the annual Gamofite Luncheon into this grouping because it's always a highlight for "gay Mormon fathers" and our friends.
We have reserved 58 seats (our own center balcony section) for this one of a kind San Francisco tradition. "Beach Blanket is the nation's longest running, biggest hit musical revue. Expect the spoof to continue, raining humor, crazy hats and ridiculous media caricatures on all those fortunate enough to visit this North Beach fixture." Order early--there will be no last minute seats!! Cost to attend: $41. Event participation limited to folks 21 and older, and you must bring photo I.D. Touring the Castro with Trevor Hailey, Friday, Oct 8th--10am - 2pm. In her nomination for 2003 Gay Pride San Francisco Grand Marshall, it was said about Trevor and her tour, "Among many awards & accolades, the most recent were 'Best in the Bay' by the Bay Guardian, a mayor-designated ‘Trevor Hailey Day’ in San Francisco, selection as one of the Bay area's top tour guides and one of only two 5-star tours by Where Magazine. And best of all, summer 2003, the Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence canonized Trevor as ‘Saint Joaquin d'Castro’ for her community contributions to education, understanding & fun." You will NOT want to miss this! (Event is limited to 25 participants). Cost to participate: $40 (includes lunch). Gamofite Luncheon, Saturday Oct 9th Everyone is welcome to this annual favorite where anything can happen. A highlight of every Gamofite Luncheon is the awarding of the Michael Farr Award and a surprise speaker! Cost to attend: $15. Luncheon with Steve Benson, Saturday Oct 9th As an alternative to the Gamofites Luncheon, or lunch out on your own, join Steve Benson, Pulitzer Prize winning political cartoonist with the Arizona Republic and grandson of former Mormon prophet, Ezra Taft Benson, as he shares his journey of discovery and liberation through charm, wit and the magic of his art. Cost to attend: $15. Twilight Cruise to and Tour of Alcatraz, Sunday Oct 10th Experience the many moods of Alcatraz and catch the dazzling sight of the City from the bay at night. The boat leaves from Fisherman’s Wharf (Pier 41) on Sunday October 10th at 5:10 pm. The tour is now available to book. This is a group activity, but we are asking you to make and pay for your own reservations by registering online at <www.blueandgoldfleet.com> or calling 415-705-5555 (Internet or phone reservations accepted---but no need to mention our group; we’re not listed). To book the cruise online, first go to the Evening Cruise Page, select the date (Sunday, 10 Oct 2004) and then select the time (5:10 pm--evening cruise). Be warned--this popular cruise fills up early! Cost to participate: $23.50 for adults, $20.75 for juniors (12-17) and seniors (62+), $14.25 for children (5-11), free for children under 5. Registration To attend any of these events (except for the Alcatraz Tour, which you register for on your own directly with the tour company), please fill out this form, and mail with payment to the address listed at bottom of form.
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